Tie wrap connector and strap kit

ABSTRACT

A connector to be used with straps of variable lengths comprising a body and two locking blades. The connector comprises a first passage and a second passage distant from the first passage that extends throughout the body along a direction perpendicular to the first passage. The passages house the locking blades. The passages comprise an entrance and an abutment wall. The second passage also comprises an exit. The entrances are for the insertion of an extremity of a strap, with the sloped locking blades preventing exit of the extremities of the strap through the entrances by blocking a portion of the strap between themselves and an abutment wall. An extremity of the strap can exit out of the connector through the exit of the second passage to be pulled to tighten the strap. Kits comprising the herein connectors are also described.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. patent provisionalapplication 62/256,430 filed Nov. 17, 2015, the specification of whichis hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND (a) Field

The subject matter disclosed generally relates to tie wraps. Morespecifically, it relates to tie wraps having a strap distinct andseparate from the connector.

(b) Related Prior Art

Nowadays, different types of tie wraps, also known as tie straps orcable ties, are used for various purposes. Originally used to attachwire harnesses, they are now used for attaching various objects and area common piece of hardware found in the everyday life. A tie wrapusually comprises a strap (or cable) and a connector for retaining thestrap, thereby confining the strapped objects in the strap.

However, most of the conventional tie wraps involve issues related tothe length of the strap used in the tie wrap. More specifically, many ofthe conventional tie wraps have a strap pre-attached to the connector,in which the strap has a pre-defined length. This pre-defined length maybe too short for some uses, and too long for other uses. If the lengthis too short, tie wraps with longer straps need to be bought. When thestrap is too long, the remainder or exceeding portion needs to be cut,or otherwise it remains attached to the tie wrap and becomes botheringfor the user. It causes undesirable waste or irritation.

Other tie wraps use a longer strap that is deliberately too long andtherefore designed to be cut to the desired length. However, there is anexceeding portion that needs to be cut or bothers the user if it is notcut, the exceeding portion being usually simply discarded. The same kindof irritation for the user and unnecessary waste production occurs withthis type of tie wrap too.

There is thus a need for tie wraps that can allow the user to choose anarbitrary and exact length of strap that is needed, while avoidingwasting exceeding strap portions, for example by enabling a reuse of theexceeding strap portions for another tie wrap.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment, there is disclosed a connector to be usedwith a strap for wrapping an object, the strap being detached from theconnector and having a first extremity and a second extremity. Theconnector comprises a first passage having a closed end and adapted toinsert the first extremity of the strap therein until the firstextremity reaches the closed end and a second passage having two openends and adapted to admit the second extremity at one of the two openends and to have the second extremity exit at the other one of the twoopen ends. Each of the first passage and the second passage having ablade, namely a first blade and a second blade, which are oriented suchthat the strap is able to travel only in one direction in the firstpassage and the second passage, and upon pulling the strap in adirection opposite the one direction, the blade will wedge the strap inplace in the respective passage.

According to an aspect, the first passage and the second passage aresubstantially straight and not parallel to each other.

According to an aspect, the first passage and the second passage aresubstantially straight and substantially perpendicular to each other.

According to an aspect, the connector further comprises a body having afirst section and a second section, wherein the first section comprisesthe first passage and the second section comprises the second passage.

According to an aspect, the connector further comprises a bridge joiningthe first section and the second section of the body.

According to an aspect, the connector further comprises a blade bodyjoining the first blade and the second blade, wherein the blade bodyexclusively constitutes the bridge.

According to an aspect, the body is made of a first material and thefirst blade and the second blade are made from a second materialdifferent from the first material.

According to an aspect, the first material is a moldable material.

According to an aspect, the second material is one of a metal and ametallic alloy.

According to an aspect, the body comprises a length and furthercomprising a tearable attachment extending substantially over the lengthof the body.

According to an aspect, the strap comprises a surface. The first bladeand the second blade each comprises an edge capable of generating anincision on the surface of the strap and thereby wedge the strap inplace in the respective passage.

According to an aspect, the connector further comprising a blade bodyjoining the first blade and the second blade.

According to an aspect, the first blade, the blade body and the secondblade form a single blade comprising at last two folds.

According to an aspect, the connector comprises a tearable attachmentreleasably attaching the connector to a neighbor connector in aconnector chain, wherein the tearable attachment is tearable by a userto release the connector from the connector chain.

According to an embodiment, there is disclosed a kit for assembling atie wrap comprising a strap having a first extremity and a secondextremity and a connector, detached from the strap. The connectorcomprises a first passage having a closed end and adapted to insert thefirst extremity of the strap therein until the first extremity reachesthe closed end, and a second passage having two open ends and adapted toadmit the second extremity at one of the two open ends and to have thesecond extremity exit at the other one of the two open ends. Each one ofthe first passage and the second passage has a blade, namely a firstblade and a second blade, which are oriented such that the strap is ableto travel only in one direction in the first passage and the secondpassage and wherein upon pulling the strap in a direction opposite theone direction, the blade will wedge the strap in place in the respectivepassage.

According to an aspect, the strap has a smooth and continuous surface.

According to an embodiment, there is disclosed a kit for assembling tiewraps comprising a strap roll made of a strap having a surface, thestrap roll being cuttable to form an arbitrary length of strap having afirst extremity and a second extremity, and a connector, detached fromthe strap. The connector comprises a first passage having a closed endand adapted to insert the first extremity of the strap therein until thefirst extremity reaches the closed end, and a second passage having twoopen ends and adapted to admit the second extremity at one of the twoopen ends and to have the second extremity exit at the other one of thetwo open ends. Each one of the first passage and the second passage hasa blade, namely a first blade and a second blade, which are orientedsuch that the strap is able to travel only in one direction in the firstpassage and the second passage, and wherein upon pulling the strap in adirection opposite the one direction, the blade will wedge the strap inplace in the respective passage.

According to an aspect, the strap has a smooth and continuous surface.

According to an aspect, the first passage defines a first longitudinalaxis, wherein the connector comprises an exterior wall that is parallelto the first longitudinal axis and that does not cross the secondpassage, and further comprising a tearable attachment which joins theconnector to another identical connector along the exterior wall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, taken in combinationwith the append drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-section view illustrating a strap and a connectorforming a tie wrap, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector of the tie wrap, accordingto an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a top cross-section view of the connector of the tie wrap,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a side cross-section view of the connector of the tie wrap,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5A is a perspective top view of a connector in accordance with anembodiment;

FIG. 5B is a perspective bottom view of a connector in accordance withan embodiment;

FIG. 6A is a side cross-section view of the connector of the tie wrapproviding an exterior aspect similar as one illustrated on FIGS. 5A-5B,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6B is a side cross-section view of the connector of the tie wrapproviding an exterior aspect similar as one illustrated on FIGS. 5A-5B,according to another embodiment;

FIG. 6C is a side cross-section view of the connector of the tie wrapproviding an exterior aspect similar as one illustrated on FIGS. 5A-5B,according to another embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a strap distributor, according to anembodiment;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a connector distributor, according to anembodiment;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a pile of stacked distributors,according to an embodiment; and

FIGS. 10A-10 b are perspective views of embodiments of distributorholders;

FIGS. 11A-11B and 12A-12B are perspective views and perspective explodedviews of a distributor holder in accordance with an embodiment.

It will be noted that throughout the append drawings, like features areidentified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In embodiments there is disclosed a tie wrap comprising a strap and aconnector which are separate and distinct, wherein the strap can be cutat an arbitrary length as desired by the user and used in combinationwith the connector while avoiding non-reusable exceeding portions of thestrap.

The tie wrap is for the same uses as conventional tie wraps. As forconventional tie wraps, there is provided a strap for strapping one ormore objects, and a connector for holding together both extremities ofthe strap.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown a strap 100 and a connector 200.

The strap 100 is an elongated piece made of a flexible material, such asplastic. The strap, according to an embodiment, is a generally long andflat rectangular cross-shape piece. According to the embodiment shown onFIG. 1, the strap 100 has a smooth surface. According to otherembodiment (not shown), the strap 100 may have a different cross-sectionshape (e.g. round) or a different surface condition (e.g. ribbed). Theside of the strap 100 is also, while not necessary, smooth.

FIG. 1 illustrates the first extremity 101 and the second extremity 102of the strap 100. The first extremity 101 is to be fitted through itsentrance 211 (see FIG. 2) in a first passage, namely the closed-endpassage 231 of the closed-end chamber 221 (see FIG. 4), and heldtherein. The second extremity 102 is to be fitted through its entrance212 (see FIG. 2) in a second passage, namely the open-end passage 232 ofthe open-end chamber 222 (see FIG. 4), and held therein.

To hold one of the extremities (101, 102) inside one of the chambers(221, 222) of the connector 200, the extremities (101, 102), onceinserted, are retained from exiting the chamber (221, 222) (i.e.,retained from going back) by a locking blade (251, 252, see FIG. 2) thatpushed the strap 100 toward an opposed abutment wall (261, 262, see FIG.2) and that bites into the strap 100 when an extremity (101, 102) of thestrap 100 is pulled toward the entrance (211, 212). More precisely, thecooperation of the materials of which the strap 100 and blades (251,252) are made are selected to enable an edge (255, 256, see FIG. 4),i.e. a cutting edge, of the blades (251, 252) to retain the strap 100without possible slipping, e.g. to generate an incision at the surfaceof the strap 100 to retain the strap 100 when the strap 100 is beingtentatively pulled out from the chamber (221, 222) from its entrance(211, 212), thereby preventing the release of the first extremity (101)or the second extremity (102) of the strap 100 from their respectivechamber (221, 222).

However, as mentioned above, the second passage 232 is open-end,defining a connection between its entrance 212 and its exit 272 (seeFIG. 4). The exit 272 therefore provides an opening for letting thesecond extremity 102 of the strap 100 exit out of the connector 200therethrough. It allows the user to pull the second extremity 102 of thestrap 100 out of the chamber 222 through the opening at the exit 272 (inthis desirable direction only). By pulling the strap 100, the user isable to bring the strapping portion of the strap 100 to its minimallength for strapping objects in the loop of strap 100. If the user pullsthe strap 100 with enough strength, there is generated a stress(tension) in the material of the strap 100 to more effectively holdobjects in the loop of the strap 100 (i.e., the strap 100 is tightened).

Through this process, there is created an exceeding length of strap 100outside of the open-end chamber 222 past the open-end passage 232. Theuser may measure the length of strap 100 needed and cut a length ofstrap 100 slightly exceeding the necessary length. Alternatively, if theuser wants to reuse the exceeding length of strap, they may choose aninitial length of strap 100 that is very long. The exceeding portion ofstrap 100 can therefore be long enough to be used for a new tie wrap,and so on for a plurality of tie wraps until the exceeding portion ofstrap 100 is too short to be reused. This repeated reuse ensures thatthere is very little waste produced. As described further below, theavailability of very long straps 100 is provided by the use of straprolls 350.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are a perspective and a top view of an embodiment of theconnector 200. The connector comprises a body 201 which is made of asolid material, usually in plastic because economic to produce since itcan be molded easily.

As mentioned above, the connector comprises a first chamber 221 and asecond chamber 222, which are the hollow portions of the connector 200designated to receive the first extremity 101 and the second extremity102. Each one of the chambers (221, 222) is made substantially the sameway, let alone that the first chamber 221 has a closed-end passage 231and the second chamber 222 has an open-end passage.

Each one of the chambers (221, 222) comprises an entrance (211, 212),which is an aperture provided at the surface of the connector forinserting an extremity of the strap therethrough. Each chamber defines apassage (231, 232) having a longitudinal axis along which the strap 100is inserted. For explanation purpose, the connector 200 and the firstpassage 231 have parallel longitudinal axes.

Each of the passages has a width (233, 234) allowing the strap 100 to beinserted therein. For insertion, the width (233, 234) of the passage(231, 232) must be slightly larger than the width of the extremities(101, 102) of the strap 100.

Each of the passages comprises an abutment wall (261, 262) opposed tothe location of the blades (251, 252) along which the extremities (101,102) travel.

Inside each one of the chambers (221, 222), each one of the passages(231, 232) houses a blade (251, 252). The locking blade 251 (aka, thefirst blade) is for retaining the strap 100 upon the insertion of thefirst extremity 101 of the strap 100, as mentioned above. The lockingblade 252 (aka, the second blade) is for preventing the strap 100 uponthe insertion of the second extremity 101 of the strap 100 to traveltowards its entrance 212, as mentioned above.

The blades (251, 252) extends inside the passages (231, 232), towardtheir abutment wall (261, 262), thereby defining a remaining width (235,236) shown on FIG. 4. The remaining width (235, 236) is the widthbetween the edge (255, 256) of the blade (251, 252) and the abutmentwall (261, 262) of the passage (231, 232).

The blade (251, 252) provided in the chamber (221, 222) has a slopedorientation away from their respective entrance (211, 212), thereforecomprising components both parallel and perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the passage (231, 232). More specifically, theblade extends inwardly inside the passage (the component perpendicularto the longitudinal axis), from the body 201 of the connector 200. Theblade 251 also extends at the same time away from the entrances (211,212), thus towards the bottom end 271 of the closed-end passage 231 (thecomponent parallel to the longitudinal axis) and the exit 272 of theopen-end passage 232. Therefore, both blades (251, 252) are orientedinwardly into their respective passage and also oriented in thedirection opposite the entrance of each passage (231, 232). The blades(251,252) are further biased toward their respective abutment wall (261,262). When they are moved away from their corresponding abutment wall(261, 262) by the strap 100, they press against the strap 100 to moveback close to their respective abutment wall (261, 262), therebyensuring that the edges (255, 256) bit in the strap 100 when a movementof the strap 100 toward the entrance (211, 212) happens.

It is worth mentioning that the edges (255, 256) are defined by a firstsurface (288, 289) of the inclined portion (253, 254) opposed to theentrance (211, 212) of the corresponding passage (231, 232) and a secondsurface (286, 287) substantially facing the abutment wall (261, 262) ofthe corresponding passage (231, 232). The edges (255, 256), with thesecond surface (286, 287) configured to be substantially parallel to thecorresponding abutment wall (261, 262), have an acute angle edge capableof performing an incision on the surface of the strap 100. According toan embodiment, the angle between the surfaces (288, 289) and (286, 287)is about 90 degrees. According to an embodiment, the angle between thesurfaces (288, 289) and (286, 287) is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

According to an embodiment, the blade (251, 252) comprises an inclinedportion (253, 254) which has the necessary orientation, and a blade base(257, 258), which is the portion of the blade (251, 252) that is held bythe body 201 of the connector 200. The blade base (257, 258) and theinclined portion (253, 254) usually form an integral piece, namely theblade (251, 252), although they can also be separate parts held togethereither by a fastener or by soldering. The inclined portion (253, 254)ends with the edge (255, 256).

The blades (251, 252) and the body 201 can form an integral piece ifthey are made of the same material or of materials that can be joined(for plastics) or soldered (for metals) together. However, moreefficient embodiments use a blade (251, 252) made of a metal (to ensuresolidity and efficiency of the edge). Economic manufacturing processesemphases on the manufacturing of the body 201 from moldable material(usually plastic). Therefore, the most efficient while economicembodiments comprise blades (251, 252) which are distinct and separatefrom the body 201 and that need to be either attached to the body 201during fabrication (for example, the blade base (257, 258) is held inthe molded plastic of the body 201), or held into the mold during themolding of the body 201.

The open-end passage 232 can be considered as having an entrance bywhich the strap 100 enters and an exit 272 by which the strap 100 exitsof the open-end passage 232. The strap 100 can be inserted by theentrance through the open-end passage and can exit by the exit where itcan be pulled by the user to tighten the loop of the strap 100 to holdobjects. The strap 100 can exit by this exit only, and cannot be pulledout of the chamber by the entrance.

According to an embodiment, the longitudinal axis of the first passage231 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of thesecond passage 232, as shown on FIGS. 1-4. According to an embodiment, aprojection of the first passage 231 along the longitudinal axis of thefirst passage 231 crosses the path of the second passage 232. Nowreferring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, embodiments of the connector 200 areillustrated comprising a body 201 comprising a first section 291 and asecond section 292 with a bridge 295 extending therebetween. In oneembodiment, the strap 100 is wedged in the passage towards the top ofthe connector 200, while in the other embodiment, the strap 100 iswedged in the passage toward the bottom of the connector 200.

FIG. 6A provides a cross-section view of an embodiment that has a body201 comprising a first section 291 and a second section 292 with abridge 295 therebetween as illustrated on FIGS. 5A-5B. The close-endpassage 231 extends in the first section 291 of the body 201 along alongitudinal axis parallel to the general longitudinal axis of the body201. The open-end passage 232 extends and passes through the secondsection 292 of the body 201. The open-end passage 232 has an orientationsubstantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, provided freeaccess to the entrance 212 and the exit 272 of the open-end passage 232.

The blades (251, 252), acting in the close-end passage 231 and theopen-end passage 232, comprises a blade body 293 and form together asingle blade of material connecting the two sections (291, 292) of thebody 201 with plastic molded around. The single blade embodimentprovided a strong bridge 295 linking the first section 291 and thesecond section 292 of the body 201. The single blade comprises a seriesof folds 294 shaping the single blade in the desired shape into theconnector 200 and providing the blades (251, 252) of efficientorientations in the passages (231, 232).

Now referring to FIG. 6B, another embodiment shows the body 201comprising two sections as to the one described in relation with FIGS.5A-5B. As with the embodiment of FIG. 6A, the blades (251, 252) actingin the close-end passage 231 and the open-end passage 232 form a singleblade of material connecting the two sections (291, 292) of the body 201with plastic molded around. The single blade is folded according to analternative pattern to both reinforce the bottom end 271 of theclose-end passage 231 and to link the two sections (291, 292) of thebody 201.

According to embodiments, the single blade is folded along a singleplane, therefore preventing wears from excessive deformation of theblade.

As illustrated, the bridge 295 may be constituted of molding material(FIG. 6C), of a blade enclosed in molded material (FIG. 6A) or of solelythe blade constituting alone the bridge 295 joining the two sections(291, 292).

Now referring to FIG. 6C, another embodiment shows the body 201 linkedby a bridge 295 molded of the same material and concurrently to theconnector 200. Dimensions and material for the bridge 295 are selectedto prevent premature wear of the bridge 295. Furthermore, material maybe selected to allow deformation with a predetermined level and somelevel of resilience adapted for particular usages.

According to embodiments, the blade or blades (251, 252) are made ofplastic, of metal, of a metallic alloy, or specifically of stainlesssteel for use in condition where corrosion problems may arise. Accordingto embodiments, the single blade, when made of metal or metallic alloy,may be molded in a specific shape and folded in another shape after themolding process to improve quality of the molding of the body 201 andthe body components.

Accordingly, the body 201 of the connector 200 may consist in a singlecomponent, or a plurality of linked sections with the bridge 295 linkingthe components having the strength necessary to hold the body 201 as asingle piece once tension applied to the strap 100.

According to embodiments, the passages (231, 232) comprise a clearancesection (283, 284) allowing movement of the blade (251, 252) away fromthe abutment wall (262, 262) upon insertion of an extremity (101, 102)of the strap 100. Accordingly, the clearance section (283, 284) allowsthe blade (251, 252) to changes temporarily its orientation slightlymore away from the entrance (211, 212).

According to embodiments, the cross-section shape of the strap 100, andtherefore of the passages (231, 232), may consists in alterative shapessuch as square, round and oblong. According to these embodiments, thepassages (231, 232) respectively comprise an abutment wall (261, 262) ofa shape offering a substantially matching abutment surface to the strap100, with the blade (251, 252) being able to grip, bit and/or slightlyincise the surface of the strap 100 to prevent the strap 100 from movingtoward the entrances (211, 212).

As mentioned above, according to an embodiment the strap 100 comprises asmooth surface, instead of the teeth or holes present in alternativeproducts. The smooth surface ensures that the tie wrap, once in a closedand locked position, has a length that is not dictated by the discretepositions of these teeth or holes. Instead, the range of possiblelengths for the closed tie wrap is not discrete, but rather continuous,because of the smooth and continuous nature of the surface of the strap100 that can be incised at any location thereon by the edge (255, 256)of the blade (251, 252). According to an embodiment, the strap 100 iscontinuous in that it does not have any aperture or holes therein usedfor locking the strap in place in the connector 200. In such anembodiment, the strap 100 is substantially uniform along its length.

Furthermore, as mentioned above, there are many conventional tie wrapsin which one of the ends of the strap is already attached and fixed tothe connector, and/or in which the strap is of a given length thatcannot be extend. Contrarily to these conventional tie wraps, thepresent tie wrap allows a user to cut the desired length for the strap.

Indeed, since none of the extremities (101, 102) of the strap 100 ispre-attached to the connector 200, the strap 100 can be provided to theuser in the form of a long strap roll 350, as shown on FIG. 7. The straproll 350 can be progressively unrolled for exposing an arbitrary lengthof strap 100, cutting it, and using this cut portion in combination withthe connector 200. According to an embodiment, the strap roll 350 isprovided in a roll distributor 300. According to an embodiment, the rolldistributor 300 comprises a distributor exit 310 for letting the strap100 unroll therethrough. Other types of distributors can also exist withsimilar features, or with a different architecture.

The same holds for the connector 200, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Sincenone of the extremities (101, 102) of the strap 100 is pre-attached tothe connector 200, it means that the connector 200 can be provided tothe user in a serialized fashion. Therefore, the connector 200, whichhas a body 201 preferably made of a moldable material (usually plastic),can have a tearable attachment 410, usually made of plastic too and partof the body, that links connectors 200 as a connector chain 420. Theconnector chain 420 can be packed as a roll and/or stocked in aconnector distributor 400. When the user needs a connector 200, theyprogressively pull the connector chain 420 out of the connectordistributor 400 and break or severe the tearable attachment 410 in orderto separate the first connector 200 from the remaining connector chain420. The ligatured connectors 200 forming a connector chain 420 can thusbe broken apart to use them individually once the user tears thetearable attachment 410 therebetween.

According to embodiments, the tearable attachments 410 are located onthe side walls (281, 282, see FIG. 3) of the connector 200. The tearableattachment 410 is joined to the side walls (281, 282) since the sidewalls (281, 282) are free of entrances (211, 212). According to anembodiment, the tearable attachment extends substantially over thelength of the connector 200, defined along the longitudinal axis of theclose-end passage 231.

According to embodiments, the opening for the distribution of theconnectors 200 may be located on one side of the connector distributor400.

Now referring to FIG. 9, there is shown an embodiment of a plurality ofconnector distributors 400 and/or roll distributors 300. As shown in thefigure, the distributors have a disc-like shape and comprise a centralhole. The distributors can be stacked in a distributor pile 500.

According to an embodiment, the roll distributor 300 comprises a cutter(not shown) for cutting the strap 100 in a user-friendly manner.According to an embodiment, the cutter is provided at the distributorexit 310 and is permanently fixed thereto. According to an embodiment,the cutter comprises a press-button that can be pushed by the user tourge the blade of the cutter toward to strap 100 to cut it to get thedesired length. According to an embodiment, a similar device is providedon the connector distributor 400.

FIGS. 10A-10B show embodiments of distributor holders 610 and 620. Inthe illustrated embodiments, there are a first end 601 and a second end602 of the distributor holder (610, 620).

The distributor holder 610 comprises one or more strings 612 that areattached to the first end 601 and to the second end 602. The strings canbe elastic or not, depending on the embodiment.

The distributor holder 620 comprises a first threaded section 623, whichis a tube having a thread therein, and a second threaded section 622,which is a tube having a thread on its surface, that are attached to thefirst end 601 and to the second end 602, respectively (although they canbe interchangeable). The threads of each one of the threaded sectionsare adapted to fit with the other one (they can be screwed together).

When the strings 612 are detached or when the threaded sections (622,223) are detached, the first and second ends (601, 602) of thedistributor holder (610, 620) are separate. A distributor pile 500 ofstacked distributors can then be provided. The strings 612 or one of thethreaded sections (622, 623) are inserted in the central hole 550 of thedistributors (300, 400) stacked in the distributor pile 500. The strings612 are then attached, or the threaded sections (622, 623) are screwedtogether. The distributor holder (610, 620) thereby holds thedistributor pile 500. The distributor holder (610, 620) can betransported by the user who can unroll the strap 100 from the strap roll350, or detach a connector 200 from the connector chain 420.

According to embodiments (not shown), the distributor holder uses analternative means to hold a variable number of roll distributors, suchas using different inner threaded sections and outer threaded sectionscooperating with each other and adapted to receive additional sectionsif more space is needed for a more voluminous roll stack. Anotherembodiment comprises releasable clip-enabled faces of roll distributorsand distributor holder ends (601, 602) allowing to add up as much rolldistributors as necessary.

Now referring to FIGS. 11A, 11B, 12A and 12B, the distributor holder 630can hold a plurality of distributors side by side. According toembodiments, the exterior face of one or both of the ends 632 of thedistributor holder 630 can hold and/or comprises components and shapedadapted to the use of the present tie wraps. Examples of such componentscomprise a clip to hold the distributor holder 630 on a pair of pants, aslot 634 to house a tool such as a cutter or a measuring tape, a slot tohouse a pencil, a case to house tags, etc.

The distributor holder 630 is conceived as a series of casings 636adapted to hold a distributor. The casings 636 are stored side by sidewith a separating sheet 638 separating a casing 636 from a neighborcasing 636. A top piece 640 and a bottom piece 642 close the distributorholder 630 at its ends.

While preferred embodiments have been described above and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled in theart that modifications may be made without departing from thisdisclosure. Such modifications are considered as possible variantscomprised in the scope of the disclosure.

1. A connector to be used with a strap for wrapping an object, the strapbeing detached from the connector and having a first extremity and asecond extremity, the connector comprising: a first passage having aclosed end and adapted to insert the first extremity of the straptherein until the first extremity reaches the closed end; and a secondpassage having two open ends and adapted to admit the second extremityat one of the two open ends and to have the second extremity exit at theother one of the two open ends; wherein each of the first passage andthe second passage having a blade, namely a first blade and a secondblade, which are oriented such that the strap is able to travel only inone direction in the first passage and the second passage; and whereinupon pulling the strap in a direction opposite the one direction, theblade will wedge the strap in place in the respective passage.
 2. Theconnector of claim 1, wherein the first passage and the second passageare substantially straight and not parallel to each other.
 3. Theconnector of claim 1, wherein the first passage and the second passageare substantially straight and substantially perpendicular to eachother.
 4. The connector of claim 3, further comprising a body having afirst section and a second section, wherein the first section comprisesthe first passage and the second section comprises the second passage.5. The connector of claim 4, further comprising a bridge joining thefirst section and the second section of the body.
 6. The connector ofclaim 5, further comprising a blade body joining the first blade and thesecond blade and wherein the blade body exclusively constitutes thebridge.
 7. The connector of claim 4, wherein the body is made of a firstmaterial and the first blade and the second blade are made from a secondmaterial different from the first material.
 8. The connector of claim 7,wherein the first material is a moldable material.
 9. The connector ofclaim 8, wherein the second material is one of a metal and a metallicalloy.
 10. The connector of claim 4, wherein the body comprises a lengthand further comprising a tearable attachment extending substantiallyover the length of the body.
 11. The connector of claim 1, wherein thestrap comprises a surface, and wherein the first blade and the secondblade each comprise an edge capable of generating an incision on thesurface of the strap and thereby wedge the strap in place in therespective passage.
 12. The connector of claim 1, further comprising ablade body joining the first blade and the second blade.
 13. Theconnector of claim 12, wherein the first blade, the blade body and thesecond blade form a single blade comprising at last two folds.
 14. Theconnector of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises a tearableattachment releasably attaching the connector to a neighbor connector ina connector chain, wherein the tearable attachment is tearable by a userto release the connector from the connector chain.
 15. A kit forassembling a tie wrap comprising: a strap having a first extremity and asecond extremity; and a connector, detached from the strap, comprising:a first passage having a closed end and adapted to insert the firstextremity of the strap therein until the first extremity reaches theclosed end; and a second passage having two open ends and adapted toadmit the second extremity at one of the two open ends and to have thesecond extremity exit at the other one of the two open ends; whereineach of the first passage and the second passage having a blade, namelya first blade and a second blade, which are oriented such that the strapis able to travel only in one direction in the first passage and thesecond passage; and wherein upon pulling the strap in a directionopposite the one direction, the blade will wedge the strap in place inthe respective passage.
 16. The kit of claim 15, wherein the strap has asmooth and continuous surface.
 17. A kit for assembling tie wrapscomprising: a strap roll made of a strap having a surface, the straproll being cuttable to form an arbitrary length of strap having a firstextremity and a second extremity; and a connector, detached from thestrap, comprising: a first passage having a closed end and adapted toinsert the first extremity of the strap therein until the firstextremity reaches the closed end; and a second passage having two openends and adapted to admit the second extremity at one of the two openends and to have the second extremity exit at the other one of the twoopen ends; wherein each of the first passage and the second passagehaving a blade, namely a first blade and a second blade, which areoriented such that the strap is able to travel only in one direction inthe first passage and the second passage; and wherein upon pulling thestrap in a direction opposite the one direction, the blade will wedgethe strap in place in the respective passage.
 18. The kit of claim 17,wherein the strap has a smooth and continuous surface.
 19. The kit ofclaim 18, wherein the first passage defines a first longitudinal axis,wherein the connector comprises an exterior wall that is parallel to thefirst longitudinal axis and that does not cross the second passage, andfurther comprising a tearable attachment which joins the connector toanother identical connector along the exterior wall.